Shoulder-rest for stringed instruments.



F. W. BECKER.

SHOULDER BEST FOR STRINGED INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 20. 1913.

Patented Dec. 14, 1915.

1| FILL COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0.. WASHINGTON, D c.

ennui) s'retrns FREDERICK WfBEoKER, or new enre, 1v. Y.

SHOULDER-REST son s'rnrnen rnsrnmvrnnrs.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 14, 1915.

Application filed November 29,1913. Serial No. 835M318.

To all whom it may concern:

known that I, FREDERICK IV. BECKER, a citizen of the U ited States, and a resident of New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certainnew and usefulImprovements in Shoulder-Rests for Stringed In-' struinents, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to shoulder rests for stringed instruments and has for its object to provide a shoulder rest which may be readily detached from the bottom plate of the chin rest and which is so mounted as to permit the instrument to move relatively thereto according to the natural movement of the arm while the person is playing without disturbing the position of the shoulder rest upon the shoulder.

A further object is to provide a device of this sort which is simple, inexpensive in construction and readily manufactured.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating the invention, Figure 1 is an elevation of a fragment of a sound box of a violin with my improved shoulder rest applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a detail plan view and Fig. 3 is a vertical section of my shoulder rest shown as attached to the bottom plate of the chin rest. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the device in the position in which the shoulder rest may be removed from its supporting plate. Fig. 5 is a detail plan view illustrating a modification. 7

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, the bottom plate 10 of the chin rest engages the bottom of the sound box in the usual manner and has formed thereon a number of tongues 11 struck up from the body thereof, one of which is oppositely disposed to the others. The shoulder rest proper consists preferably of a sheet metal member 12, having an arc shined portion 13 which engages'between the tongues 11 and a bearing portion H having a pad 15 attached thereto which is adapted to rest upon the shoulder of the player. The opposing tongues 11 are spaced at a distance corresponding to the width of the are 13 and the latter is provided at one extremity with a notch 16 which may be brought into registration over one of the tongues to permit the insertion of the shoulder rest upon the bottom plate of the chin rest. It will be seen that as the violin is moved from side to side by the natural movement of the arm in playing, the shoulder rest may remain stationary upon the shoulder while theplate 10 may slide on the arc retamed by the tongues 11. To provide a snug fit between the are 13 and the plate 10, the tongues 11 are formed on an incline which-contacts fricti'onally the edges of the arc and by the natural resiliency of the material engage the are with sufficient pressure to prevent the accidental disengagement of he latter.

In the form illustrated in Fig. 5, the bottom plate 20 of the chin rest has the tongues 21 struck up therefrom as in the other construction. These tongues engage the are 22 of the shoulder rest, the latter having the bearing portion 23 to which is attached a pad The are 22 is somewhat shallower than the are 13 above described and the pad is elliptical instead of circular in form as in the other construction. Such a form may be found convenient for some persons.

Having thus described my invention, I claim-- 1. In combination with the bottom plate of a chin rest formed with proiections constituting a socket. of a shoulder rest comprising an arcuate portion removably inserted within said socket, said arcuate portion permitting pivotal movement of the rest with respect to the instrument.

2. In combination with the bottom plate of a chin rest formed with proiections constituting a socket, of a shoulder rest comprising an arcuate portion provided with an entering notch removablv held within said socket, said arcuate portion permitting pivotal movement of the rest with respect to the instrument.

3. In combination with the bottom plate of a chin rest having tongues struck up therefrom, of a shoulder rest comprising an arcuate portion slidablv held within said tongues, said arcuate portion permitting pivotal movement of the rest with respect to the instrument. 7

4. In'combination with a bottom plate of a chin rest ha ing inclined tongues formed thereon. of a shoulder rest having an arcuate portion slidablv engaging within said ton ues, said arcuate portion permitting pivotal movement of the rest with respect to the instrument.

5. A shoulder rest for stringed instruments comprising a bearing portion having a pad attached thereto and an arcuate portion formed with an entering notch, said arcuate portion being adapted to be removably attached to a socket secured to the box of a stringed instrument. 7

6. In combination with a bottom plate of a chin rest provided with spaced projections, Of a shoulder rest having a portion slidably engaged by these projections upon Which the instrument may pivot, said por- 15 tion being formed with an entering notch for one of the projections, and an elliptical pad attached to an extension of said portion.

Signed at l\* eW York city, in the county of New York, and State-of New York, this 26 17th day of September A. D. 1913.

FREDERICK \V. BECKER.

WVitnesses; 7

WM. 1. COHEN, EVE AXEL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

